ABRI neutrality in elections queried<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Political scientists and other
\nobservers are questioning whether the Armed Forces (ABRI) can
\nmaintain neutrality in the coming elections, given their
\ntraditional patronage of the ruling Golkar political grouping.<\/p>\n
Purwoko, a political scientist at Diponegoro University in
\nSemarang, said he doubted that ABRI could become impartial, in
\nspite of the general public's wish that it not take sides.<\/p>\n
\"I am still doubtful whether ABRI can become neutral for the
\n1997 general elections,\" Purwoko told the Jakarta Post yesterday,
\nadding that, to date, the military had always been the main force
\nbehind Golkar's success in all of the past five elections.<\/p>\n
Purwoko's comments were made in response to recent remarks by
\nGolkar Chairman Harmoko, who said the ruling political grouping
\nhad not become powerful as a result of support from ABRI.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone knows and feels that Golkar would never have become
\nbig without the support of ABRI,\" said the lecturer in government
\nstudies.<\/p>\n
Golkar was established in 1964. During the New Order era of
\nPresident Soeharto, Golkar has enjoyed large majorities in each
\nelection, always winning at least two-thirds of the votes.<\/p>\n
Until Harmoko, who is also minister of information, became
\nGolkar chairman in October 1993, previous chairmen had all been
\nretired military generals.<\/p>\n
Kahar Badjuri, dean of Diponegoro University's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences, said yesterday that, despite
\nHarmoko's comments, it was a well-known fact that Golkar was
\nstrongly backed by the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone knows that Golkar has now become big because of the
\nrole and involvement of ABRI,\" Kahar said.<\/p>\n
Kahar said he believed Harmoko's statement was made in an
\nattempt to boost the confidence and self-esteem of Golkar
\nmembers. However, he said that the remarks should not have been
\nmade in public, thereby causing various political
\ninterpretations.<\/p>\n
\"Harmoko said it just to enhance Golkar's confidence that,
\nunder his leadership, Golkar could be even bigger and win the
\nnext election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Reduced role<\/p>\n
In a related development, prominent human rights campaigner
\nAdnan Buyung Nasution called for a reduction in the role of the
\nArmed Forces in the political system.<\/p>\n
Adnan, who is the founder of the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nFoundation, said in Jakarta yesterday that the political changes
\nsweeping the country had reached a stage at which a reduced role
\nfor the military was called for.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI, as an institution, also has to slowly adjust itself to
\nthe evolving life of the state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The \"dual function\" principle adhered to by ABRI mandates that
\nit not only act as the security force, but also has a say in the
\nsocial and political development of the country.<\/p>\n
Because of this unique role, military personnel do not vote in
\nelections but are allotted a fifth the seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Adnan said that ABRI should be allowed to take part in the
\nsocial and political development of the country, but was critical
\nof what he said was too great an involvement by the military in
\nthe affairs of the state.<\/p>\n
\"Over-involvement in state matters causes things like the
\nMarsinah incident,\" Adnan said, referring to the suspected
\ninvolvement of military personnel in the murder of labor activist
\nMarsinah.<\/p>\n
He contended that the participation of ABRI in social and
\npolitical affairs should be reduced now that the country was in a
\n\"normal\" situation.<\/p>\n
\"Look at the other developing countries. Look at Thailand or
\nSouth Korea,\" he said, citing what he called \"normal
\nparticipation\" of the military in state matters. \"Such a
\nsituation will not be reached overnight, but steps should be
\ntaken in that direction.\"<\/p>\n
\"I think our scholarly generals should also observe (the roles
\nof) their colleagues in other countries,\" said the outspoken
\nhuman rights lawyer.<\/p>\n
\"That is not to say that we should just imitate the practices
\nof other countries or turn them into a yardstick (for
\nIndonesia),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Rather, they should become guidelines for ABRI in
\ndeliberating...as to what role it should play in the light of the
\ndemocratization trend,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, retired Gen. Soemitro has also called on ABRI to
\nreturn to its original function, become less of a protagonist in
\npolitics and ease off its support for one political faction.
\n(har\/mds)<\/p>",
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